The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
European vessels will need licence to catch in UK waters under Brexit plan
POLITICS: Michael Gove criticises EU approach to fishery agreements
European fishing vessels will need a licence to catch in UK waters from the end of December under Boris Johnson’s Brexit plan, it has emerged.
After fisheries negotiations stalled in Brussels last week, the UK Government has now published a draft of its demands in a bid to move the conversation forward ahead of the final round of talks on June 1.
The 11-page fisheries offer to the EU makes clear that the UK will be an independent coastal state by the end of the year and argues for a new relationship, similar to that between the EU and Norway, based on the principle of zonal attachment.
The document states that the UK will ensure the “continued sustainable and rational management of the fish stocks” but makes clear the vehicle for that will not be the common fisheries policy.
“Each party shall manage its own fisheries independently and may take such measures in its relevant waters as it considers appropriate to ensure the rational and sustainable management of fisheries”, the UK legal text states.
To manage future disagreements, the UK has suggested the establishment of a EU-UK “fisheries co-operation forum”.
The forum would manage, monitor, control and enforce on issues relating to fisheries.
On enforcement, the UK has made it clear that “any vessel granted access to fish in the relevant waters of the other party must obtain an authorisation and a licence”.
The text also makes clear that the fisheries agreement between the UK and EU can be suspended, with two years’ notice, if there is a dispute that cannot be resolved.
Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove said yesterday in the Commons: “The EU essentially wants us to obey the rules of their club even though we’re no longer members and they want the same access to our fishing grounds as they currently enjoy, while restricting our access to their markets.
“It remains difficult to reach a mutually beneficial agreement while the EU maintains such an approach.
“But, we believe agreement is possible if flexibility is shown.”
Meanwhile, Scottish Constitution Secretary Michael Russell said that due to the pandemic, the UK Government needed to ask for a two-year Brexit delay and prioritise the “current crisis”.